Writing contests, classes & conferences: welcome to fall!

 What a summer it's been! I'm back from the hades that is summer in Texas, amazed at how good it felt recently to have days when the temperature didn't top 101 degrees F. (What we in the Lone Star State call a "cool spell.") Even cooler, the new season come with a fresh list of writing conferences, classes and contests. I'm partial to Texas-related events but sometimes include others, especially if they're online.

First: the contests:

Now-Oct. 15: Pulp Literature's Raven Short Story Contest for unpublished short fiction (500-2,500 words). No need to include birds but hurry, total entries are limited to 200. Early bird entry fee (before September 15) $15, regular entry fee $20. Or add an editorial critique for $25. 

Now-Oct. 24: A Texas contest! The Kathryn McClatchy Flash Fiction Contest sponsored by the Writers Guild of Texas. Entries must be unpublished, with word counts between 300-1,000. Limited to WGT members but for a fee of $35, non-members receive a one-year membership as well as entry into the contest. Cash prizes for first through fourth (honorable mention) winners. See the site for details, including format and judging criteria.

Now-Oct. 31: How about, from across the pond, Flash 500's Novel Opening & Synopsis Competition? For novels, whether started or completed, with strong, credible characters, page-turning plots and compelling synopsis. Send first chapters (up to first 3,000 words) of unpublished works only, plus synopsis. Cash prizes. Entry fees: £10 for one novel, £18 for two, £26 for three. Online payment methods will happily translate these amounts into dollars. See the site for details.

Oct. 1-mid-Nov.: Carve Magazine's Prose & Poetry Contest seeks the best literary fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Carve is based in Dallas, Texas, but accepts writers from all over the world. Cash prizes in each genre, with winners published in the magazine's spring issue. See the site for details.

Dec. 1: Still missing the now-retired PitMad? Don't be sad! Try Cam Cat Books version on X (formerly known as Twitter). Check out details at www.twitter.com, #CamCatPitMad.

Want more contests? Check out lists from Publishing. . . and Other Forms of Insanity, Writer's Digest, Reedsy and Writers of the Future.

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Now, about polishing the craft, pitching, networking, and just plain loving the whole writing and literature thing with Conferences and Classes:

Sept. 9-10: Hay Forum Dallas, at indie bookstore The Wild Detectives, 314 W. 8th St., Dallas, features writers from several Latin American countries as well as the United States. The format is based on the original festival at Hay-on-Why, Wales, which has since branched across Europe and Latin America. Free. RSVP at the site for times and details. 

Sept. 13 (repeating monthly): Another Texas goodie from Dallas Writers Garret and The Wild Detectives -- a monthly poetry series. RSVP at The Wild Detectives site for an evening with featured writer Christine Suggs, followed by a brief open mic session.

Sept. 16: Indie bookstore The Dock in Fort Worth celebrates National Literacy Month with the Trinity River Book Festival, featuring more than 20 local and national authors plus other family-friendly events. At Trinity River Pavilion 1, across from Chuy's Restaurant, West 7th St., Fort Worth.  See the site for details.

Now-Nov. 28: Arts & Letters Live continues its literary and performing arts series, sponsored by the Dallas Museum of Art. Guest speakers include Jonatha Eig, Barbara Kingsolver, Mary Beard, Jesmyn Ward, Zadie Smith and more. Ticket prices and venues vary. See the site for details.

Sept. 26: Richardson Reads One Book Author Lecture at 7:30 p.m., in First United Methodist Church, Richardson, 503 N. Central Expressway in Richardson, Texas, showcases Shelby Van Pelt's Remarkably Bright Creatures. Free, or add on an author interview and luncheon at the University of Texas at Dallas Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center. See the site for details, including how to secure free tickets for the lecture and purchases for the interview and luncheon.

Image: Carlos Villada for Pixabay 

Oct. 7-8: The DFW Writers Conference offers more than 50 classes, 12+ agents and editors, and guest speakers Dave Eggers and Evangeline Lilly, at the Hurst Conference Center, 1601 Campus Dr., Hurst, Texas. See the site for full agenda and tickets.

Nov. 1-30: Neither a class nor a conference, but NaNoWriMo offers a full month of incentives to finish that first draft of a novel. Free. See site for details, including ways to become involved locally and with other writers.

Nov. 11-12: The Texas Book Festival in Austin includes national and regional authors such as Ann Patchett, Abraham Verghese, Time magazine editor Walter Isaacson, political leader Stacey Abrams, and more! Free. See the site for details and venues throughout downtown Austin.

Dec. 9-10: The last few years were big on virtual conferences and the online format's become a staple. So, I can't resist mentioning the Writer's Digest University Historical Fiction virtual conference. Contents include webinar presentations from six award-winning, best-selling historical fiction authors, query letter feedback, and more. See the site for cost and details. 

In there more? Yes, indeed! The Writers League of Texas offers numerous classes both in person and online. See the site for details.

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Still to come: Stuff I learned while it was too hot to post!